Re: EMF

[Ludwik Kowalski <kowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>]

The positive terminal of a battery is a source but its negative
terminal is a sink (for the electric field lines). We need a term
for something that creates the source-sink setup, and tries to
keep it constant.

The term EMF is not likely to disappear, I just wanted to
find a substitute for the word "force" in this abbreviation.
If the EMF term were to be abandoned then EES (electric
energy source), or EC (energy convertor), or ESS (electric
source-sink) could be considered as possible replacements.
Ludwik Kowalski

Bob Sciamanda wrote:

> I would propose the term "Electromotive Source" (EMS).  This capitalizes
> on the distinction between sources and sinks in a electrical circuit. An
> EMS of 5 Volts calls upon an external energy source to give 5 Joules of
> energy to each coulomb which passes through it (in the "forward"
> direction).
>
> Bob Sciamanda (W3NLV)
> Physics, Edinboro Univ of PA (em)
> trebor@velocity.net
> http://www.velocity.net/~trebor
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ludwik Kowalski" <kowalskiL@MAIL.MONTCLAIR.EDU>
> To: <PHYS-L@lists.nau.edu>
> Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2002 2:43 PM
> Subject: EMF
>
> > Referring to the EMF my textbook states that the use of the
> > term electromotive force "is discouraged." We know why.
> > So what is the alternative? I am hesitating between "frog"
> > (or frogging) and "food". The first has to do with the old
> > Galvani-Volta controversy, the second with energy. A
> > battery of 12 volts, for example, feeds (another f-word?)
> > each coulomb with 12 joules of energy, at it passes through
> > it. I think food is more appropriate. Any better alternative?
> > Ludwik Kowalski